Weather trending to lower temps

An unseasonably hot spell kept the San Diego area sweltering for a second day Thursday, though overall temperatures were somewhat lower than on Wednesday.

The heat wave made Lindbergh Field a summer-like 82 degrees by shortly before midday, and sent the mercury nearly to three-digit figures inland in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Over the day, the warming trend, created by offshore flow and an unusually strong high-pressure zone centered over the coast, brought thermometer readings of 102 degrees in Borrego Springs, 99 in Escondido, 97 in El Cajon, 95 in La Mesa and 94 in Alpine.

There were no local record highs by late afternoon, NWS meteorologist Noel Isla said. Five records were set on Wednesday.

Temperatures should be up to 10 degrees lower across the county on Friday, and the cooling pattern is expected to continue for at least several days thereafter, under mostly clear skies.